POOL-IN-WHARFEDALE Parish Council has received an accreditation for its professionalism and high standards.

The organisation has been presented with a Local Council Foundation Award by the National Association of Local Councils Accreditation Panel.

To obtain the award the council had to complete a number of modules and tasks following a very strict set of criteria to prove that it was well managed.

It also had to demonstrate that:

*It is representative of, and actively involved in, the community

*It operates efficiently in all aspects of its work, including finance and administration

*Councillors and officers maintain a high standard of conduct.

Parish Council Chair Councillor Hazel Lee said: "Achieving this award is great news for the council and the Parish Clerk, John Ryan.

"We have worked so hard to continue to maintain such high standards and we are all very proud of this national recognition."

The Local Award scheme is a peer assessed programme designed to both provide tools and encouragement to councils aiming to improve their work and recognise others that are leading the way.